ABU DHABI // Rani Ata received a final paycheque of Dh6,000 last year and that was also the last time he saw his wife and three children.
The father of three has been unable to work after injuring himself while on holiday in the Hajjar mountains in Oman in last year. While climbing a precarious section, he lost his footing and fell six metres, breaking his leg, thigh, arm, ankle and damaging his spine.
He was taken to a Dubai government hospital for treatment and was bedridden for a year. His treatment cost thousands of dirhams.
“I don’t know what made me climb the mountain, I guess I thought I was still young,” says the 40-year-old Syrian lorry driver who counts himself lucky to be alive after the fall. “Everyone thought that I wouldn’t survive.”
However, his problems, and his debts, soon began to mount up as he recovered in hospital. “My company said they were not responsible because the accident happened while I was on holiday,” says Mr Ata, adding that he was advised to look for another job despite being unable to leave his bed.
“I remained in bed for a year and only started moving a few days ago,” he says.
Determined to get on with his life, as soon as he was able to walk, and with the aid of crutches, he went looking for a job to support his family in Syria.
“Every employer has rejected me and asked me to apply when I’m better,” he says. “I now limp and am in constant pain. It’s no longer possible for me to drive but I’m willing to do anything.”
Mr Ata was able to pay off some of his hospital bills, but about Dh34,000 is outstanding.
“The hospital is calling me every day and has threatened to take legal action against me if I don’t pay them immediately,” Mr Ata says.
“I’ve asked them to wait because I’m unemployed, to just give me some time until I find a job but they said that it wasn’t their concern. They want their money immediately.”
Mr Ata says he cannot afford to buy food let alone clear his debt.
“My uncle was kind enough to take me in, and my brother is taking care of my children in Syria but I can’t pay the bill,” he says, adding he is now worried about being arrested and jailed because of the debt. “They threatened to tell the authorities,” he says.
“I have three young children in school and everyone knows how the situation in Syria is like. I haven’t seen them since my accident.”
Before his accident, Mr Ata would drive lorries to Syria and Lebanon. “I used to see my family regularly and now I can’t even call them on the phone because the connection is so bad,” he says.
“I miss them so much. I haven’t told them that I might be in jail soon. Their situation is bad enough as it is.”
Hisham Al Zahrani, manager of zakat and social services at Dar Al Ber, said: “Rani Ata needs about Dh34,000 to pay off his hospital bill.
“With no health insurance and no job, it is almost impossible for him to raise this amount on his own.
“We hope the community will help him settle this debt.”
salnuwais@thenational.ae
• To help, call the hotline at 0502955999, or send a WhatsApp message to the same number. Donations can be made by depositing money in Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank account, Iban number AE9805 000 000 000 11530734 or Dubai Islamic Bank account, Iban number AE8002 4000 352 0443 1952 01.
